I’m planning 200km rides in the hills south of London, and on the flat in Holland. Is anybody interested in either at some point later in the year? Details are:

Meridian Hills / Around Weald Expedition - 2 very picturesque permanent rides, both of which I’ll be riding this year. I rode the Around Weald last year, and found it tiring with quite a bit of cycling upwards, but the route was very picturesque. Both rides count towards the Grimpeur du Sud award, and you can start just off the M25 not far from the QE2 bridge.

Holland - overnight ferry from Harwich (11pm on a Friday, arrives in Hook of Holland at 8am), cycle a DIY 200km, arriving back to catch the overnight ferry to Harwich (10pm, arriving 6:30am). 14 hours is plenty of time for a leisurely 200km ride.

Dates - I’m quite flexible, and would suggest sometime between mid-June and mid-July, or end-August/beginning of September.

Oaky has previously expressed an interest in the Holland adventure. At the moment I’m just looking for interest, then can sort dates and start making arrangements. I'll be at the Compasses next Wednesday, and the Horsepower on 4th March, if you'd like more details.

Yes and Yes... I have a good route in/out of Hoek from my touring last year.... plus top tips for pre-ferry curry & on-ferry-breakfast We could ride to the ferry also if that suits... I had a really nice ride over to it last year including the Wivenhoe trail.

Yes and Yes... I have a good route in/out of Hoek from my touring last year.... plus top tips for pre-ferry curry & on-ferry-breakfast We could ride to the ferry also if that suits... I had a really nice ride over to it last year including the Wivenhoe trail.

Excellent. Cycling to the ferry is what I had in mind, and your help with the route would be appreciated. I think this could turn into a grand adventure.

I would be keen to join the ride to Harwich and do a 200k in Holland with overnight ferry crossings. Being a non-smoker, it might be interesting to legally try the wacky backy, with the thinking it may make the ride less painful. Last time I took Harwich crossing was in 2012 and did a mini tour of Holland, Luxembourg and West Germany on the motorbike with full camping gear during the European Cup tournament.

I have to forewarn that I am prone to sea sickness.

The ferry company recommends book a night cabin but I slept in the lounge which was almost empty.

A cabin works really well on the way back, it's like a floating travel lodge. On the way out you loose hour, so it feels like less value plus breakfast is 05:00! I'd still get a cabin though, as a shower works wonders!

Good curry house up the road from the ferry terminal, last time I prebooked a meal on the ferry (which was good) and just had a taster in the curry house, but in retrospect of go for the curry and get more sleep on the ferry

I've used the Newhaven Dieppe crossing for a 24 hour ride to Paris. That crossing is just 4 hours, but even then a chance for a shower and semi-quality sleep was very welcome. So I will favour a cabin on the way out also.

You are partially correct. Of the third night of the crossing there is indeed an all night bar and dancing. On the first night you get a two flower arranging class, on the second night there's an orgy.

I've been tweeting our stuff from my account thus far as I CBA to create a separate one for ACME plus build up all the followers again - happy to create a new one and register it to the gmail account we have... I've been using the hashtag #ACME